Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) said it has signed an agreement with the Canadian University of Dubai to support the educational aspirations of its UAE National employees in line with its on-going Emiratisation strategy.

Under the terms of the agreement, the university will become a partner of DIB’s “Taalam” programme, which was established in 2004 to encourage Emirati staff to pursue further education, said a statement from the bank.

In turn, DIB will sponsor its eligible employees for up to 100 per cent of the cost of completing a course of their choice at the university, it added.

Founded in 2006, the Canadian University of Dubai offers a wide spectrum of education choices for aspiring learners.

Obaid Al Shamsi, the chief of human resources said, "In a highly competitive market, one way that DIB is able to attract and retain the best Emirati employees is by offering unrivalled learning and development opportunities."

"Our ‘Taalam’ programme, for instance, comprises partnerships with a range of leading universities like the Canadian University of Dubai, giving our employees the flexibility to choose an advanced education course that best suits their interests and skills," he remarked.

"Almost a decade on from its launch, hundreds of employees have benefited from the programme and it continues to be a cornerstone of the bank’s Emiratisation strategy," he added.-TradeArabia News Service